Latest news with #NewcastleKnights
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Man who sent death threat to Knights player sought to avoid court due to 'frightening' media
AN ONLINE troll who sent a Knights player a death threat sought to avoid coming into the courthouse because he would have to face "intimidating and frightening" media cameras. Joseph Baldwin, 20, was flanked by his father and defence solicitor Robert Williams as he braved the three-strong press pack and ultimately entered Belmont Local Court in person for sentencing on Wednesday. Baldwin was convicted and fined $750 after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller by sending him direct Instagram messages. "Count your days, c**t I will end your f***ing ife," Baldwin wrote from his personal account at 9.08pm on June 5 after the Knights played against Manly. "Doesn't make up for it even though you won." Baldwin referenced "5 errors, 2 penalties, 1 six again and a partridge in a pear tree" in the messages. A third message, which said that Baldwin hoped Schiller would "choke and die" on a "c**k", was so untasteful that magistrate Stephen Barlow refused to read it onto the record. Baldwin's defence solicitor argued that no conviction should be recorded, saying the outburst could be seen as a moment of "youthful impulse" and a "brain snap". Mr Williams said Baldwin, from Greta, was young, had no criminal record and was so remorseful that he would never send a message of that nature again. The court heard Baldwin had played rugby league, clearly "loved the game", worked as an apprentice, and was highly regarded in Upper Hunter communities. Mr Williams said Baldwin was willing to write Schiller a very sincere letter of apology if appropriate. But, the police prosecutor argued there was a need to deter others in the community from sending online threats to public figures. "They're professionals, they're doing a job, and it's not up to the public to decide whether they're doing a good job or not," the sergeant said. "It's easy to sit there and type away, but one has to think about the consequences." Mr Barlow said Baldwin had a strong subjective case but the content of the messages was somewhat alarming. He said if the threat had materialised, it would have had catastrophic consequences. "Rugby league players are tough people, it's one of the most brutal physical games around, but when one threatens to end your life it's a matter that obviously would make any person concerned about their welfare and their family's welfare," he said. The court heard Baldwin had attended the police station on June 13 when first requested and had cooperated with investigating officers. He was granted bail after he was charged, and it was his first time before the court on Wednesday. Schiller took to his own Instagram account's 'stories' after receiving the direct messages in June to expose the comments he had received, which were slammed at the time by his teammates and the National Rugby League boss. Schiller reported the messages to Lake Macquarie police the next day and detectives launched an investigation. AN ONLINE troll who sent a Knights player a death threat sought to avoid coming into the courthouse because he would have to face "intimidating and frightening" media cameras. Joseph Baldwin, 20, was flanked by his father and defence solicitor Robert Williams as he braved the three-strong press pack and ultimately entered Belmont Local Court in person for sentencing on Wednesday. Baldwin was convicted and fined $750 after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller by sending him direct Instagram messages. "Count your days, c**t I will end your f***ing ife," Baldwin wrote from his personal account at 9.08pm on June 5 after the Knights played against Manly. "Doesn't make up for it even though you won." Baldwin referenced "5 errors, 2 penalties, 1 six again and a partridge in a pear tree" in the messages. A third message, which said that Baldwin hoped Schiller would "choke and die" on a "c**k", was so untasteful that magistrate Stephen Barlow refused to read it onto the record. Baldwin's defence solicitor argued that no conviction should be recorded, saying the outburst could be seen as a moment of "youthful impulse" and a "brain snap". Mr Williams said Baldwin, from Greta, was young, had no criminal record and was so remorseful that he would never send a message of that nature again. The court heard Baldwin had played rugby league, clearly "loved the game", worked as an apprentice, and was highly regarded in Upper Hunter communities. Mr Williams said Baldwin was willing to write Schiller a very sincere letter of apology if appropriate. But, the police prosecutor argued there was a need to deter others in the community from sending online threats to public figures. "They're professionals, they're doing a job, and it's not up to the public to decide whether they're doing a good job or not," the sergeant said. "It's easy to sit there and type away, but one has to think about the consequences." Mr Barlow said Baldwin had a strong subjective case but the content of the messages was somewhat alarming. He said if the threat had materialised, it would have had catastrophic consequences. "Rugby league players are tough people, it's one of the most brutal physical games around, but when one threatens to end your life it's a matter that obviously would make any person concerned about their welfare and their family's welfare," he said. The court heard Baldwin had attended the police station on June 13 when first requested and had cooperated with investigating officers. He was granted bail after he was charged, and it was his first time before the court on Wednesday. Schiller took to his own Instagram account's 'stories' after receiving the direct messages in June to expose the comments he had received, which were slammed at the time by his teammates and the National Rugby League boss. Schiller reported the messages to Lake Macquarie police the next day and detectives launched an investigation. AN ONLINE troll who sent a Knights player a death threat sought to avoid coming into the courthouse because he would have to face "intimidating and frightening" media cameras. Joseph Baldwin, 20, was flanked by his father and defence solicitor Robert Williams as he braved the three-strong press pack and ultimately entered Belmont Local Court in person for sentencing on Wednesday. Baldwin was convicted and fined $750 after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller by sending him direct Instagram messages. "Count your days, c**t I will end your f***ing ife," Baldwin wrote from his personal account at 9.08pm on June 5 after the Knights played against Manly. "Doesn't make up for it even though you won." Baldwin referenced "5 errors, 2 penalties, 1 six again and a partridge in a pear tree" in the messages. A third message, which said that Baldwin hoped Schiller would "choke and die" on a "c**k", was so untasteful that magistrate Stephen Barlow refused to read it onto the record. Baldwin's defence solicitor argued that no conviction should be recorded, saying the outburst could be seen as a moment of "youthful impulse" and a "brain snap". Mr Williams said Baldwin, from Greta, was young, had no criminal record and was so remorseful that he would never send a message of that nature again. The court heard Baldwin had played rugby league, clearly "loved the game", worked as an apprentice, and was highly regarded in Upper Hunter communities. Mr Williams said Baldwin was willing to write Schiller a very sincere letter of apology if appropriate. But, the police prosecutor argued there was a need to deter others in the community from sending online threats to public figures. "They're professionals, they're doing a job, and it's not up to the public to decide whether they're doing a good job or not," the sergeant said. "It's easy to sit there and type away, but one has to think about the consequences." Mr Barlow said Baldwin had a strong subjective case but the content of the messages was somewhat alarming. He said if the threat had materialised, it would have had catastrophic consequences. "Rugby league players are tough people, it's one of the most brutal physical games around, but when one threatens to end your life it's a matter that obviously would make any person concerned about their welfare and their family's welfare," he said. The court heard Baldwin had attended the police station on June 13 when first requested and had cooperated with investigating officers. He was granted bail after he was charged, and it was his first time before the court on Wednesday. Schiller took to his own Instagram account's 'stories' after receiving the direct messages in June to expose the comments he had received, which were slammed at the time by his teammates and the National Rugby League boss. Schiller reported the messages to Lake Macquarie police the next day and detectives launched an investigation. AN ONLINE troll who sent a Knights player a death threat sought to avoid coming into the courthouse because he would have to face "intimidating and frightening" media cameras. Joseph Baldwin, 20, was flanked by his father and defence solicitor Robert Williams as he braved the three-strong press pack and ultimately entered Belmont Local Court in person for sentencing on Wednesday. Baldwin was convicted and fined $750 after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller by sending him direct Instagram messages. "Count your days, c**t I will end your f***ing ife," Baldwin wrote from his personal account at 9.08pm on June 5 after the Knights played against Manly. "Doesn't make up for it even though you won." Baldwin referenced "5 errors, 2 penalties, 1 six again and a partridge in a pear tree" in the messages. A third message, which said that Baldwin hoped Schiller would "choke and die" on a "c**k", was so untasteful that magistrate Stephen Barlow refused to read it onto the record. Baldwin's defence solicitor argued that no conviction should be recorded, saying the outburst could be seen as a moment of "youthful impulse" and a "brain snap". Mr Williams said Baldwin, from Greta, was young, had no criminal record and was so remorseful that he would never send a message of that nature again. The court heard Baldwin had played rugby league, clearly "loved the game", worked as an apprentice, and was highly regarded in Upper Hunter communities. Mr Williams said Baldwin was willing to write Schiller a very sincere letter of apology if appropriate. But, the police prosecutor argued there was a need to deter others in the community from sending online threats to public figures. "They're professionals, they're doing a job, and it's not up to the public to decide whether they're doing a good job or not," the sergeant said. "It's easy to sit there and type away, but one has to think about the consequences." Mr Barlow said Baldwin had a strong subjective case but the content of the messages was somewhat alarming. He said if the threat had materialised, it would have had catastrophic consequences. "Rugby league players are tough people, it's one of the most brutal physical games around, but when one threatens to end your life it's a matter that obviously would make any person concerned about their welfare and their family's welfare," he said. The court heard Baldwin had attended the police station on June 13 when first requested and had cooperated with investigating officers. He was granted bail after he was charged, and it was his first time before the court on Wednesday. Schiller took to his own Instagram account's 'stories' after receiving the direct messages in June to expose the comments he had received, which were slammed at the time by his teammates and the National Rugby League boss. Schiller reported the messages to Lake Macquarie police the next day and detectives launched an investigation.
ABC News
8 hours ago
- ABC News
Man fined over Instagram death threat to Newcastle NRL player James Schiller
A Hunter Valley man has been convicted and fined in a New South Wales court after pleading guilty to sending an NRL player a death threat on social media. Joseph Baldwin, 20, was arrested and charged in June after screenshots of graphic messages he sent to Newcastle Knights winger James Schiller on Instagram were circulated online. Schiller, 24, received the messages on social media after a game against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on June 5 at Hunter Stadium. The messages included, "Count your days … I will end your f***ing life". Baldwin was arrested a week later and charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. In Belmont local court on Wednesday, Baldwin pleaded guilty to the charge. In sentencing, Magistrate Stephen Barlow expressed his shock at the graphic nature of the messages, which included a "direct threat to end his [Schiller's] life". "More than harsh, they're actually quite threatening," he said. "The victim was concerned for his own safety, and the safety of his family. Baldwin's lawyer Robert Williams asked the court to consider not recording a conviction, to allow him to "continue his life with an unblemished record". But Magistrate Barlow recorded a conviction over the charges, and fined Baldwin $750. Prior to sentencing, Mr Williams asked the magistrate to allow his client to be excused from entering the courthouse, arguing there was "intimidating media" outside. However, Mr Williams later agreed Baldwin would need to approach and enter the court to deal with the matter in person. Magistrate Barlow said the charges against Baldwin included a "concerning death threat" made to Mr Schiller "on the basis that he hasn't played well enough in a rugby league game". The court heard Baldwin was extremely remorseful and apologetic over the messages. "He will never send a message like this again," Mr Williams said. The defence lawyer also told the court Baldwin wanted to write Schiller a "very sincere letter of apology", if that would be welcomed by the victim. Two character references were handed up to the court, which Magistrate Barlow said detailed Baldwin as a "reliable and level-headed young man". The magistrate accepted he was young and immature, but said athletes in the public eye should be able to feel safe at work and in the community. "Just because he is someone who is a public figure, doesn't mean he should have to have a more resilient personality than anyone [else] in the community," Magistrate Barlow said.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors women feel NRLW travel pinch under semi-professional rules
Warriors regroup after conceding a try to Newcastle Knights. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport NZ Warriors coach Ron Griffiths has called on the NRLW and Rugby League Players Association to reconsider rules that place unrealistic travel demands on the team for away fixtures. The Auckland-based side will cross the Tasman for their 'Magic Round' encounter with North Queensland Cowboys at Newcastle on Sunday - the second time they have travelled to the New South Wales coastal town this season. Two weeks ago, they fell 36-20 to the hometown Knights, whom Griffiths guided to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, before switching allegiances to the Warriors, as they returned to the NRLW after a five-year hiatus. He believes his new team were not only outclassed by one of the competition's top teams, they also fell victim to a travel schedule forced upon them by welfare guidelines. To maintain the integrity of their semi-professional programmes, NRLW clubs can only call on their players for training, media/sponsorship commitments or travel outside the hours of 8am-4pm during the week, so they can also balance education or careers with rugby league. "You can't travel inside the protected hours for the players," Griffiths said. "You can't travel on the Friday, because they don't get paid for the day off work." For their season-opener against Sydney Roosters, the wahine flew across the ditch late on Friday night for an 11.50am Saturday kickoff in Sydney. Last time they travelled to Newcastle, they gathered in Auckland on Saturday and conducted their 'captain's run' at home, before flying to Sydney, then bussing almost three hours to their destination. By the time they arrived, it was late evening, but their bodies were still on NZ time two hours ahead. Griffiths reported players receiving massage at midnight local time. "I was in the last group getting a massage in Newcastle," lock Laishon Albert-Jones confirmed. "It was late - if it's midnight there, then it's 2am at home, so we were essentially going to bed at 2am. "I actually did fall asleep on the table, 100 percent. At one point, I thought I just might be sleeping there. "I get that we had a late game, but your body clock still wakes you up at 6am, when you have to go to work, so it doesn't feel like you're rested properly." The Warriors women played after the men on that occasion, kicking off at 6.15pm Sunday local time, so rules were probably bent getting them home the next day and the same will apply this time, despite an earlier 11.50am game. "This time, we've done it differently," Griffiths said. "We're going to leave early Saturday morning and we're in Newcastle by lunchtime, which gives us the whole afternoon to reset. Laishon Albert-Jones fell asleep on the massage table at Newcastle. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ "We'll frame our captain's run as it needs to be, particularly after a double travel - it only needs to be small anyway." When he said "early", the flight leaves Auckland at 7am, so Albert-Jones has her alarm set for 3am. "After the game, we're in Newcastle for that night, we'll drive to Sydney the next morning and travel on the Monday," Griffiths said, "Really - for us, internationally - you lose two days." Surely, that's cutting into protected time under the rules? "Great question," he winked. "Something we need to ask about." That kind of itinerary seemingly detracts from the players' onfield performance and threatens the very wellbeing those rules were designed to safeguard. "I don't want to give any excuses, because there should be no excuse why we couldn't put in a decent performance, but it does take a toll," Albert-Jones said. "At some point, you can't just keep going - you get burnt out and it is hard. "As a team, if you think about it, it's a lot to do in the space of 36 hours - I don't even think it's a full 40 hours that we were in Newcastle. "This week is better. We get to Newy a little bit earlier, but it would have been ideal if we got there on Friday night. "We have a real busy day on Saturday, but it does mean we get to bed at a decent time and we do have the early game." Meeting North Queensland on neutral ground at least spares the Warriors the dreaded round trip to Townsville, even more of an ordeal than the Newcastle jaunt. Griffiths pointed out the Warriors weren't the only team figuring out the logistics of trans-Tasman travel. "It's a year of firsts for us, understanding what that looks like, but it's also a year of firsts for other teams, who are feeling the same thing coming over here," he said. "The only difference is we're doing it every second week - we do it this weekend and then we go again next week [against Canterbury Bulldogs], so two weeks in a row. "There's been some key learnings for us as staff to make sure we get that right, but at the end of the day, if we're talking from a player perspective and best performance, we should be travelling Friday, captain's run on Saturday and play Sunday. "The collective certainly need to get together and talk through what that looks like, and now that we're back in the competition, there are enough questions being asked that I'm sure that will happen." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Knights boss Peter Parr admits Newcastle may struggle to keep Kalyn Ponga
Newcastle boss Peter Parr concedes the Knights face a battle to retain Queensland Origin star Kalyn Ponga in the face of a potential poaching raid from Mal Meninga's Perth Bears. Meninga will begin building his maiden Bears roster from November 1 and a prime target will be Ponga, who was born in Western Australia – making the Dally M winner the ideal poster boy for a Perth team. The Knights were rocked last week by reports that Ponga had engaged a third-party to explore options in rugby union amid fears he could embark on a code switch to one day represent the All Blacks. But Newcastle bosses believe a bigger threat exists in the NRL, with Ponga set to receive monster offers from the Perth and Papua New Guinea franchises ahead of their entry to the big league in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Ponga is contracted to the Knights until the end of 2027 and would require an early release from Newcastle to be the foundation face of a Perth team. Meninga told this masthead he will be chasing the biggest names in the game and Parr admits Perth – not New Zealand rugby – could be the real threat to keeping the Maroons fullback in Newcastle. 'There's no doubt with the introduction of the new teams that Kalyn would be a target, especially for a Perth team,' Parr said. 'He would be a great marquee signing for a new franchise, but I don't know what the future holds. 'The person who would have a major say in whether Kalyn left early would be me and that won't be happening. He is here for the next two years. 'We will do what we can to keep Kalyn at the club, but we're not naive enough to think that he won't be attractive to a start-up club like Perth or indeed any other NRL club.' As revealed by this masthead last month, Ponga has fielded interest from overseas rugby clubs in France and England, while he has repeatedly been linked with New Zealand rugby because of his Kiwi heritage. But the Knights believe the 27-year-old is reluctant to quit the NRL, which opens the door for Perth and PNG to blow Newcastle out of the water with offers in excess of $1.5 million a season. NRL players with links to Perth are rare and that makes Ponga, born in Port Hedland, the perfect promotional target for a Bears club that will be desperate for a big-name marquee signing. Even if the Knights refused to grant Ponga an early release, he would be available for the Perth Bears second season in 2028, by which time PNG will also enter the market armed with tax-free dollars. Parr says it's Newcastle's preference to secure Ponga to an extended deal, but accepts Meninga's Bears will be circling the Knights skipper, who could earn up to $2 million with a Perth team. 'Our preferred option is to keep Kalyn long-term but with the advent of new teams, I don't think anybody can predict what might happen with the player market,' he said. 'I can't speak for how Kalyn feels about rugby. 'In 2028, there will be a new broadcast deal in place and a new salary cap. 'Kalyn can't negotiate until November next year, so time is on the side of both us and Kalyn. 'Whenever Kalyn comes off contract, my expectation is he will be in demand, whether that's NRL clubs, new franchises in the NRL or rugby union. 'Someone with his talent will always attract attention.' Asked in March, on the eve of round 1, if he had shut the door on rugby, Ponga said: 'I don't know. 'I have things I want to achieve first in the NRL, like winning a premiership, and it will all depend on that. 'To be honest, I don't know if I could even pick the game up again. 'I haven't watched a union game in about 10 years. I played it as a junior and I enjoyed it, but it would be interesting to see if I could do it. 'I don't even know what position I would play. 'It'd be a massive adjustment, but it would be a great challenge.' Meninga said NRL stars such as Ponga and Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo, who has signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins for 2026, are on his radar. 'We'll be talking to everyone available on the market with my recruitment guy and head of footy,' he said. 'That's part of my role – to get a good footy team together and be competitive from day one. 'I know that's a challenge, so you've got to talk to the best players. 'We'll make sure that we don't leave any stone unturned.' Peter Badel Chief Rugby League Writer Peter Badel is a six-time award winning journalist who began as a sports reporter in 1998. A best-selling author, 'Bomber' has covered five Australian cricket tours and has specialised in rugby league for more than two decades. NRL Cam Munster, Billy Slater and Cam Smith have a special piece in their career which Reece Walsh missed out on - an apprenticeship away from the forensic gaze of the NRL. NRL Jake Clifford has won the battle for scrumbase contracts at the Cowboys - and it is set to deliver a former Australian schoolboys playmaker to the Broncos.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ricky Stuart's calls out rival after 'disrespectful' contract offer to Origin player
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has called out the Newcastle Knights for the contract saga surrounding Dane Gagai after reports the current fullback feels 'disrespected'. Gagai was a standout for the Knights, despite the side losing 44-18 in Canberra to Stuart's men. The Raiders maintained their lead at the top of the NRL ladder, while the Knights will enjoy a bye this weekend as their injury list takes a toll on the inexperienced side. But one of the shining lights in the second-half of the season has been Gagai who is deputising at fullback in Kalyn Ponga's absence. Gagai never gave up for the Knights, despite a number of Bunker calls going against them, with the Canberra Raiders piling on the points in the second-half. And Gagai has been in a standoff with the Knights over a new contract. The 34-year-old is currently on a $400,000-a-year-deal with Newcastle but the club are prioritising some of their talented younger players going forward. Reports suggest the club have offered Gagai an extension in 2026, but he would have to take a slight pay cut. Although this seems brutal on the veteran who has been one of the side's best players in a dismal season. And Raiders coach Stuart came out swinging for Gagai and took aim at his rival club. "You look at Dane Gagai and he'd be the first player I would re-sign," Stuart said after the game. "He was by far the hungriest, best player out there tonight. He just never stopped trying. That builds teams." Gagai recently claimed he felt 'disrespected' at the Knights' offer and wouldn't be against moving his family to a new city if a deal can't be reached. 'I've been taken for granted because they didn't think I'd move my family again,' Gagai told . 'The disrespect is the biggest thing. I know Adz [coach Adam O'Brien] still wants me around. He's made me captain so I must be doing something right.' Knights fans have urged the club to keep the veteran who only proved against the Raiders he is still one of their best players. Regardless, it appears Gagai will have a decision on his hand come the end of the season. Knights urged to keep Dane Gagai in 2026 Earlier this month, NRL reporter David Riccio claimed the Knights should try and make sure Gagai stays around with the Queensland great adding plenty of experience to a struggling squad. "The fact Gagai stepped up to play fullback for the first time since 2018 speaks volumes for the experience he brings and how reliable he is," reporter Riccio said on SEN radio. "I think this is a smart move because you want to keep these kind of players around. You speak to any of the top coaches in the game and they say you can never have enough experience in your team." RELATED: Stunning development for Cleary brothers as Luai under heavy fire Cameron Munster 'open' to switch to Melbourne Storm's rival Gagai played in State of Origin Game 3 last year, but wasn't selected by Billy Slater in 2025. Instead, Slater opted to choose Robert Toia in Game 1 at centre. Gagai is a Queensland great having made 23 appearances for his state. Gagai has made 309 appearances in the NRL for Brisbane, the Knights and the Rabbitohs. The Knights are set to miss out on finals footy in 2025 sitting tied on 16 points with last-placed South Sydney.
